David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail: The Banks may not be willing to give the “Ice Edge” group the funds to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes for $160 million. Jeffery Vinik only paid about $100 million cash for the Tampa Bay Lightning. There was a bill proposed by Arizona legislature last month to create a special tax to help the arena cost, it fell through. A real-extate company was suspose to help the Ice Edge group financially pulled out.
Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News: Michael Leighton’s play in net may have helped save the Flyers season, but it hasn’t gotten Flyers talking to him about a contract extension yet. The Flyers have had a tendency to go the lost cost route in net, so Leighton might appeal to them rather than going after higher priced goalies such as Marty Turco, Evgeni Nabokov, Vesa Toskala, Dan Ellis, and Antero Niittymaki.
Kevin Allen via Twitter: After Modo’s playoff loss Peter Forsberg said “this might have been my last game.”
Chris Botta of NYI Point Blank: Some points from Garth Snow’s interview with MSG Network. Snow expects Rick DiPietro to play again this year (I wonder how long it will be before he’s hurt again). Snow expects to test the free agent market out, and will be looking for a couple defenseman (Makes you wonder why they traded Andy Sutton in the middle of a playoff run, especially when they are pretty thin on the blueline now).
Steve MacFarlane of the Calgary Sun: Ian White hopes to re-sign long term with the Calgary Flames this summer. “I would hope they’d want to keep me around here,” said White, of Steinbach, Man.”I love being out west. I love playing for Calgary. I love everything about this organization. I’d be honoured to be able to stick around here for a few more years.”
Helene Elliot of the LA Times: Jonathan Bernier will most likely make the start for the LA Kings tonight as Jonathan Quick will miss the game as he’s awaiting the birth of his first child. Kings backup, Erik Ersberg, hasn’t played in a month but coach Terry Murray wants to see Bernier play. “I want to see him. I know he’s had a great year, one of the best in all of the goaltenders that are outside of the NHL, and this might be an opportunity for me to get a look at him, for the team, and for him to come up and play,” Kings Coach Terry Murray said Thursday. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Kings were showcasing Bernier, especially if they feel Quick is their goalie of the future. Quick is signed for another 2 years.
Matthew Sekeres of the Globe and Mail: Steve Bernier of the Vancouver Canucks will be out for 4-6 weeks after having sports hernia surgery yesterday.
